Rotary draw works



Oct. 17, 1944. F. GILLETT ROTARY DRAWWORKS Original Filed March 5. 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 17, 1944. F. L. GILLETT 2,360,489

ROTARY DRAWWORKS Original Filed March 3, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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F. L. GILLETT ROTARY DRAWWORKS Original Filed March 3, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 17, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICTE ROTARY DRAW woRKs Frank L. Gillett, Inglewood, CaliL, assignor to The.

National Supply Company, Pittsburgh, Pa... a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application March a, 1941, Serial No.

Divided and this 1942, Serial No. 151,695

1 Claim. (Cl. 192-85) This invention relates to rotary drawworks and more particularly to a rotary drawworks applicable for use in connection with a rotary drilling apparatus for the drilling of wells, 1. e., oil, gas, or other wells. In the high speed drilling of wells it is an economicfnecessity that the drawworks as utilized be of such construction as to permit the rapid and eflicient handling of the drill pipe, particularly as the same is withdrawn from, or lowered into, the well, as may be occasioned many times during such drilling operations due to the'necessity of changing bits or other tools necessary in such drilling operation.

In the operation of such a drawworks con struction, in order to effect the quick changes of direction of operation required in such hoisting operations, it is desirable to employ a friction type clutch drive to the drum shaft. s

It is also desirable to actuate such a friction clutch by means of fluid pressure and thereby obtain ease of operation and freedom from bulky mechanical linkage. A serious obstacle affecting the use of a fluid-operated friction clutch on a drawworks drumshaft, however arises from the fact that the drumshaft normally is boredaxiallyto form a cooling water passage for de livering cooling water to the'brake rims and hence actuating fluid for the clutch cannot be introduced centrally of the'drumshaft.

Accordingly it is the principal object of this invention to provide a fluid operated clutch construction which overcomes this diillculty.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for a fluid operated clutch employing an axially movable pressure applying member. Another object is to provide an improved construction of this type wherein the inner seal for the axially movable member is subject to axial movement but not to relative rotation between the parts forming the seal.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a clutch structure embodying my invention illustrating the same as applied to a drawworlrs hoisting drum shown fragmentally and in section.

Figure 2 is an end view partly in vertical section thereof.

application July 21,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental section taken substantially on the line 3-3 or Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmental'enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line H of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a-diagrammatic view of a rotary drilling rig illustrating my invention.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the rotary drilling rig includes a drilling or rotary machine i, a drawworks 2, and a power transmission element 3; The power transmissicn unit 3 may be of any suitable or desirable form of construction forthe transmission of power from any suitable or desirable source to the line shaft I of the drawworks 2 so as to en- .able said shaft it to be driven at a number of diff ferent speeds.

. As is common in such structures, the lineshaft 6 is provided with a power transmission connection 5 for the driving of the rotary, machine I ing a multiple chain sprocket l, is mounted on the line shaft (to drive a corresponding multiple chain sprocket 8 mounted upon the drum shaft 9. The drum shaft t carries a spooiing drum II over which a line Ii is trained. The line H normally passes over the crown block (not shown) and through the necessary block (also not shown) for supporting the drill pipe as it is lowered through, and as it is driven by, the rotary machine I.

In order to effect a driving connection to the drum l0 which, in this case, is rigidly mounted to the drum shaft 8, a friction type and positive type clutch i2 embodying my invention is provided. By the use of this friction type clutch in tins organization'I am enabled to effect a quick change of speed of drive of,the line I I, and should the friction means for any reason fail, I am en abled to utilize 'the positive drive provided through the said element I! to efiect the driving connection between the sprocket 8 and the drum 10 so that the drilling operations are not required to be discontinued during replacement or repair of the iriotibn el'enints.

In moraines with my invention, the drum shaft 9 is supported between spaced bearings l3 upon spaced supporting structures It, only one of which bearings and supporting structures is shown, as said supports are well understood in this art.

The drum I9 is provided with brake flanges II at either end of the drum as each of these brake flanges I5 is provided with an inner shell ii for the circulation-of a cooling fluid against.

through the other end of the drum shaft in anysuitable manner as, for example, illustrated in the Spalding Patent No. 1,918,591, granted July 18, 1933.

In accordance with my invention, the' drum shaft 9 extends beyond the supporting bearing H at one end of the structure and upon this o'verhanging portion axially aligned spaced roller, bearings l1 and i9 are mounted.

A clutch housing l9 of bell shape is rotatably supported by its sleeve portion 29 upon the bearings l1 and I9. The bell-shaped clutch housing l9 as herein illustrated includes the s eeve Portion 29, a radially extending wall 2|, and a shell portion 22 to which latter section a cover member 23 is secured as by means of the through bolts 24. The bell-shaped housing provides an annular chamber 29 around the drum shaft 9. Within this chamber are mounted the friction discs 26, 21, 29 and 29.

The multiple chain sprocket 9 is secured to the housing l9 by means of cap screws 39. IA hub member 3| is secured to the shaft 9 by means of keys 32 and a collar 33. The hub member is provided on its periphery with a series of external spline teeth 34. The friction discs 21 and 29 are provided with internal spline teeth 95 adapted to interengage with the spline teeth 34 whereby the said discs 21 and 29 rotate with the hub 3| and may have axial movement therealong. The discs 21 and29 are provided with friction lining 36. Discs 26 and- 23 and the clamping plate 31 are provided with peripheral notches 39 for engaging the square portion 39 of the through bolts 24 so that the discs 26 and 29 and plate 31 rotate with the housing I9 and may have axial movement with respect thereto. Formed integral with the engaging plate 31 is an annular piston 49.

Means are provided including a packing ring 4| held in position by means of a follower 42 and bolts 43 to provide a seal between the piston 49 and the cover 23. The piston member 49 is provided with a plurality of lugs 44 fitting within an axial bore 45 in the cover 23 to assist the follower 42 in maintaining the piston member 49 concentric with the shaft 9 and housing l9.

A tubular member 46 is mounted at the end of the shaft 9 and proj ects through the central opening of the piston 49. The tubular member 49 is provided with a radially extending flange 41 which is secured to the cover 23 in fluid-tight relation.

Sealing means 49 are interpositioned between the tubular member 46 and the piston 49. The sealing means 43 and 4| form the inner and outer boundaries respectively of an annular chamber 49 defined between the cover 23 and the piston 49. When fluid under pressure is admitted into this chamber 49, the piston 49 is moved axially,

causing the clamping plate-31 to move toward 99 and 5| release the frictional engagement between the discs.

' The shaft 9 projects beyond the hub 3| and through the central bore of the tubular member 49.

' A spring-loaded packing assembly 52 encircles the outer end of the shaft 9 and flts within an elbow 53. The elbow 53 is secured to a stationary ring 54 by means of cap screws 55. The stationary ring 54 is held in place by means of a ball-bearing assembly 55',

A ring 56 and the flange 41 of the tubular element 46 are both secured to the cover 23' by means of cap screws 51. The ring 56 and the flange 41 cooperate to define a split outer race for the ball-bearing assembly 55 and a groove 59 formed in the stationary ring 54 defines the inner bearing race. This construction provides a means for maintaining the stationary ring 54 concentric with the shaft 9 and the housing l9.

The means provided for supplying the cooling fluid for the cooling chambers of the brake rims l9 includes the elbow 53 leading from a supply pipe 59 into the longitudinal passageway 99 of the shaft 9. The packing assembly 52 prevents leakage at the point where the stationary elbow 93 meets the rotary shaft 9. The shaft 9 is provided with a lateral branch 9| which leads to piping 92 to the said brake rim chambers.

Means are provided for supplying fluid under pressure for actuation of the piston 49 of the friction clutch. This means as herein illustrated includes an elbow 93' connected with a fluid supply line 64. The elbow 93 is secured to the stationary ring 54 and communicates with an annular recess 95 by way of a port 69.

Sealing rings 91 and 98 encircle the outwardly projecting portion of the tubular element 49 and thereby form spaced rotary seals between the stationary ring 54 and the tubular element 49. Between the sealing rings 91 and 99 there is provided a plurality of ports 69 formed through the wall of the tubular element 49. A second series of ports 69 are formed through the wall of the tubular element 46 on the opposite side of the flange 41 and a sleeve 19 fixed within the bore of the tubular element 49 places ports 99 and 99 in direct communication. In this construc-' tion fluid pressure which enters the annular space 99 passes inwardly between the sealing rings 91 and 68, through the ports 99, around the sleeve 19, and out through the port 99. The fluid under pressure then passes radially outwardly between the lugs 44 and may thus act over the entire area of the piston 49 between the sealing rings 49 and 4|.

A vent pipe means 1| is provided for venting the space behind the piston 49 to the atmosphere and providing a passage through which foreign matter under the influence of centrifugal force may be discharged from the chamber 25. Means are provided whereby a positive drive connection the radial wall 2| to bring the friction discs 26,

21, 29, 29 and 31 into frictional engagement. A friction drive is thus established between the driven sprocket 9 and the shaft 9; When the supply of fluid under pressure is relaxed, the springs may be established between the sprocket 9 and shaft 9 acting through the hub member 3| when such positive connection is desired or required.

The means provided for establishing this positive connection includes a plurality of drive pins 12 which are mounted in horizontal position to slide in bores 13 formed in the housing l9 and through apertures 14 formed in the structure of the sprocket 8. Mating apertures 15 are formed in the hub member 3| to receive the pins 12. Means are provided for longitudinally shifting the pins 12, including a shifting ring 19 havinl a flange 11 over which the hook ends I8 and pins '32 are engaged.

A clutch shifter collar 19 engages over a flange an on shifter ring 16 for shifting the ring and pins in a direction longitudinalto the shaft 8 and into and out of engagement within the apertures 15 formed in the hub member 3|.xThe

shifter collar 19 is connected by means of the rods 8| with a shifter lever 82 pivotally supported as indicated at 83 upon the housing for the bearings l3,

In operation the normal driving connection between the. sprocket 8 and shaft 9 to the drum I0 is .provided through the frictional engagement of the driving discs 26, 21,- 28, 29 and 31. When it is desired to remove these plates for replacing the lining or for other reasons of repair, the,

, 3 understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, a housing rotatably mounted on the shaft and provided with spaced walls, a circular recess in the outer wall of said housing, an

annular clutch plate between said housing walls and adapted to rotate with the shaft, an element mounted on the outer wall of the housing and having an inwardly extending annular projection, an axially movable annularpiston encircling said element and adapted to exert axial pressure upon said plate toward the inner housing wall to establish a driving connection between the housing and the shaft, guide means provided on said piston extending into registration with said circular recess, a seal between the outer periphery of the annular piston and the housing, a seal between the inner diameter of the annular piston and the outer wall of said annular projection, and means associated with said element for introducing fluid under pressure between said annular piston and said outer wall of the housing.

. FRANK L. GILLETI'. 

